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Guest post: Parshuram, a forgotten gem

My friend and film encyclopedia Arunkumar Deshmukh contacted me a few days ago with the news that he had met family members of “yesteryears” actor and singer Parshuram. He was offering to write a guest post about this largely forgotten but long-time contributor to Indian cinema, who began his career in 1937, in V. Shantaram’s Duniya Na Maane (and Kunku, the Marathi version) and worked steadily for three more decades plus.

Naturally I jumped at this generosity! A big thank you to the family of Parshuram, and of course to Arunji.

TIME is a great leveller.

So is our film industry. This industry has lifted many people from rags to riches and also some have been dragged from riches to rags.

This is a Maya Nagari.

Those who thought that all that glittered here was gold have suffered the bitter effects of the stark reality.

There are umpteen number of cases in the industry where the Artists who reached a certain height in their professional career,died unsung,unknown and unattended.There are instances like Parveen Babi and Nalini Jaywant, whose deaths went virtually unnoticed, their last circumstances unknown and when discovered, too late. For many the end was violent, like Sayeeda Khan (murdered), director Brij (suicide), Madholal Master, MD (murdered), Vasant Desai (crushed between lift doors) or Shankar Dasgupta (came under a local train). Some committed suicide like Guru Dutt and Bulo C Rani etc.

But the worst is when death does not come quickly and the last days are spent in poverty, begging or being bedridden without attendants.

Master Nissar, whose popularity was such that the Bombay Governor had to stop and give way to his crowds of fans, died penniless in Kamathipura slums. His last rites were done by the Artists’ Association.

The charming bubbly Meena Shorey begged for money for her daughter’s marriage and died unsung and penniless. Her last rites were paid for by charity donations.

Wasti, the one time hero, was seen begging near Liberty Talkies in Bombay. Rattanbai, onetime famous singer and actress begged at a durgah, as did Khan Mastana. Rajkumari, Vimi, Dwijen Mukherjee, Bharat Bhushan, Bhagwan all spent their last days in penury, humiliation and obscurity. Cases are many and varied. The point is that life in the film industry was tough for most.

When I read about the plight of Parshuram as narrated by Tabassum, I felt very sad. Parshuram was an actor/singer I remembered most for his wonderful song “Man saaf tera hai ke nahin” in the film Duniya Na Maane (1937).

I was keen to know more about him. I tried every possible source in my knowledge, but nowhere could I get any information about him.

It is extremely difficult to collect information about oldtime actors and singers, because records are kept only for the very famous.Unless you find some close relative, you cannot get any authentic information. Once the artist becomes very old, even he can not give much information as his memory fails him. Sometimes he may give wrong information, albeit with good intentions, but it does not corroborate with other sources. I have come across close relatives of some old artists who expected money for the barter of information. They think that we must be making money by writing about them. For a common man, it is beyond his imagination that anyone can do this work merely out of love for old films/songs/artists. In this selfish world we can not blame them for this.

History is witness to the fact that almost every project—be it writing history, collecting rare data, inventing things or helping social causes—has come out of obsessive love for it rather than for the money it might accrue !

In the month of November 2011, I wrote an article on Atul Ji’s blog, referring to Parshuram. One reader from Australia drew my attention to a comment made by a person on Parshuram’s song on YouTube, claiming to be Parshuram’s grandson. I was thrilled. I immediately wrote to him, and to my delight he indeed was Parshuram’s grandson.

Mr. Mangesh Barde, grandson of Parshuram (his daughter’s son), is settled in New Zealand, with his family (wife and son). He not only responded to my email, but also got in touch with his mother in Mumbai and asked her to get in touch with me.

Sure enough, I got a call from his mother and after confirming my credentials and genuine interest, she agreed to meet me in early January 2013. On the appointment day, I went to her residence in Bandra, Mumbai, where she lives alone after her husband’s death. She worked in the Indian Customs department until she retired sometime back. Her two daughters are also married happily, and one stays close by on Pali Hill in Bandra. She too joined us after some time although both ladies requested anonymity.

From her home we spoke to her son in New Zealand via Skype. Mangesh is a very handsome young man who works for an airline company there. We three had a long discussion and I got a fairly good amount of information about Parshuram. His daughter had kept some very old photographs and cuttings of an article from a Marathi magazine on Parshuram, though that did not have much information and whatever was there was mostly incorrect, she said.

Parshuram Laxman Sonnis was born in a small village of Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in a very poor family. From childhood he was fond of acting and singing. He used to regale people with his mimicry. Due to his family’s poverty his education did not go beyond 4th Standard, but he was fond of reading and used to read whatever came to his hands. This improved his language and also his knowledge.

When he was around ten, his father shifted to Bombay. He tried to fix Parshuram as an extra at Ranjit Movietone. After an year or so, after realising that there was no scope there for him, he left it. Then his father would take him on shoulder and look for jobs while Parshuram sang songs from films. One day when they were doing this, V.Shantaram passed them. Hearing Parshuram’s song he followed them and asked his father to leave Parshuram in his custody at Prabhat Film Company in Poona to groom him as an actor. Delighted with this, his father agreed and left him at Prabhat.

Thus started a journey of life.

At Prabhat, he got a salary of Rs.5 per month plus food, shelter and clothing as perks. Here he took the opportunity to learn music from stalwarts like Master Krishnarao Fulambrikar and Keshavrao Bhole, a big name in classical and film music that time. Being a good learner Parshuram picked up singing quickly.

His first break came when he was given the singing role of a beggar boy in Prabhat’s iconic milestone film Duniya Na Maane. He sang the song so beautifully that Shantaram and all others at Prabhat were very pleased, and his acting was also flawless. He sang in the film’s Marathi version Kunku too. The song became very popular and it opened doors for another role soon.

In 1938, Prabhat made another bilingual film (Hindi and Marathi) called Gopal Krishna. Parshuram got the meaty role of Pendya, the childhood friend of Krishna and a leader of other Gope children of Gokul. The role was important and big. He sang three solos and a trio in this film. The trio was with Shanta Apte and Ram Marathe—both expert singers—but Parshuram sang along with them with equal expertise.

The same year he acted in yet another bilingual Prabhat film called Mera Ladka (Maza Mulga in Marathi). In this film he sang just one song with Master Chhotu, a reputed stage artist.

Parshuram in Gopal Krishna and as the sage in Shakuntala

As per those days’ customs it was time for him to get married as he was about 18 now. He got married to Leelabai, a girl selected by his father. This was in 1940. Shantaram gave him Rs.500 for his marriage. In those days it was a big amount and the entire marriage was accomplished with the money without any problem.

Parshuram was very happy. He was sure that his career will take off from here now, but alas! he was not given any role in any Prabhat film after this. This was the time when Shantaram was having problems at Prabhat and it was rumoured that he was leaving it. As Parshuram was an actor of his ‘camp’, he was shunted aside and he continued being only a servant of Prabhat doing household work in directors’ houses. Frustrated, he left Prabhat and got a role in National Studio’s Meri Duniya (1942). He sang three songs in this film but no recordings were made for any of the its songs.

Meanwhile Shantaram had also left Prabhat and started his own Rajkamal Kalamandir Studios and production company. He called Parshuram and employed him at 80 rupees per month salary. Parshuram got a role in Rajkamal’s first film, 1943’s Shakuntala. Parshuram did the role of Kanva Muni, the foster father of all the ashram girls including Shakuntala. In this film he sang two songs, with Jayashree (Shantaram’s wife) and with Zohrabai Ambalawali.

His family needs were increasing and work at Prabhat slowed for him after Shakuntala. With Shantaram’s consent, he started doing films outside of Rajkamal. However he also continued to work for Rajkamal whenever called: in Jeevan Yatra (1946), Matwala Shayar (1947) (Lokshahir Ramjoshi in Marathi), Bhool (1948), Apna Desh (1949), Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953) and Geet Gaaya Patharon Ne (1964).

Parshuram (on the right) in Bhool, and second from left in Barkha (with actress Nanda)

During this time he also worked in Chor Bazar (1954), House No. 44 (1955), Jagte Raho (1956) and Bhagam Bhag (1956).

His next big break came when Bharat Bhushan called him for an important role of court singer in his home production, Basant Bahar (1956). He sang on screen the very famous song of Bhimsen Joshi and Manna Dey “Ketaki gulab juhi champak…”. Perhaps he is the only one in those days to get a playback from Bhimsen Joshi!

He had a good relationship with AVM bosses and he used to fly to Madras in those days for shooting.

After 1968 his bad period started. He met with an accident and broke his leg; a rod had to be fixed in it, giving him a limp. Films were not being offered now that his type of singing and acting was out of date. He fell into bad company and began drinking in frustration, and even showed up drunk on set. Somehow he worked in a few films as an uncredited extra. His family life was devastated due to his drinking, and his wife and son deserted him. They too had to make ends meet somehow. Parshuram started asking for and borrowing money from everybody for drinks. People began avoiding him and he became almost a beggar.

One day actress Tabassum saw him at the Lucky Hotel traffic light at Bandra. She recognised him as she had acted with him in some films. Her film-based TV show “Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan” was in full swing in the 1976-77 period. She stopped her car, took him to TV station, fed him, cleaned him up, gave him some clothes and did a live talk show with him on her programme. She also gave him Rs.1000 on the spot.

After this interview was telecast, many people were moved with his story and wanted to help him. Shiv Sena announced a pension of Rs. 100 per month to him.

His condition was so bad that he was unable to do any work. Rejected by family and ruined by alcohol, he was found unconcious on the footpath one day (his daughter was already married and was away). Some good samaritans took him to Bhabha Hospital and informed his family. Neither his wife nor son went to see him, and by the time his daughter came to know about it he had died, on the 24th of January, 1978. His daughter did his last rites.

His wife died on soon after on June 26, 1981, and his son died in 1982.

Parshuram was an original, a natural actor and singer. His role of court singer in Basant Bahar is simply unforgettable. Though he was not educated, he could speak English which he had learnt on his own. This was very handy in Madras when he did AVM films.

Bharat Bhushan and Raj Kapoor (he did two films—Jagte Raho and Aashiq with RK) respected him for his work. Even small roles were made memorable by his acting.

Today only his daughter, grandson and granddaughter remember him fondly as affectionate father and grandfather. He loved his granddaughter very much.

When I visited them, they were all overwhelmed that, 35 years after his death, someone had shown interest in his work.

Parshuram’s grandson Mangesh Barde with his lovely wife and son (Parshuram’s great-grandson). I am sure the actor would be proud!

All photographs are courtesy Parshuram’s family (and Arunkumarji who provided pictures of them).

Arun Kumar Ji,
Thanks for the efforts in this write up. I am pleased that my comment was instrumental in unearthing the story. Someday, I hope to learn more about Shanta Apte, Snehprabha Pradhan,… Thanks again.

Just fantastic all around effort by all, thx a load folks for digging out yet another Goldie actor and giving him his dues, we must thank Internet that we are able to remember these contributors of yore. And very unfortunate so many like Parshuram bhau simply do not ‘exist’. The least they deserve is a permanent place in the History Of Indian Cinema !

Wonderful research and credit goes to Arunkumar; also thanks to the Family Members of Late Parshramji for sharing such information. I am searching for information on Bharat Bhushan, as per my knowledge their family is settled in Pune. Can any one help me??

This is one of the finest posts that I have read in recent times, thanks Arunji and thanks Greta. Both of you have done a great service to a forgotten hero. What was heartwarming for me as person who also was once connected to the film industry was to see that his children’s life turned out fine.

I have seen house no. 44 for sure and Geet Gaya tooo. can u give some snapshots of the actor parshuram from this film. also can u give list of songs sung by him. would be happy to see more pics of him from various films in which he worked as character artiste

@Shrikant, I happen to watch Saranga a few months ago thus the disc was easily available, so I am pleassed to share some SS of him, this should give an idea to all readers how he looked like in later part of his career, I have most of his phillums from 1950’s and once they are dug out I will share more SS, meanwhile have a look at Senapati= Parsuram from this musical, and one thing more we had a major role played by Sadiq bhai ( a Malayalam) as Gyanchand , a fab role/actor. Let us hope we can have some limelight on him also :), and now here he is with Sudesh Kumar and Niranjan Sharma….

Cheers

p.s. Memsaab when yu get time, pls add him in your Gallery, danke sehn.

Fantastic article based on interviews from closest surviving relatives of the actor. Going through the article, it felt like I was watching the full life of Parshuram in my mind’s screen. It must be one the very few articles to appear on Parshuram.

Arunji, thanks for your efforts. For those interested in the films and stars of yesteryears it is a great source of information. It also brings out stuff about other actors.
It was really generous of V. Shantaram to give Rs500 for his wedding.
Tabassum, of course, was kind even if it was for her TV programme.

Parshuram’s family has been really nice and supportive in helping you with this article, and as Shilpi says I’m really happy that the life of the children turned out well, at least his daughter’s.
Thank you Greta for enabling this.

Thank you, Arunji – this made for very interesting reading. Even though I’ve seen quite a few of Parashuram’s Hindi films (particularly the later ones), I have to admit I’ve never actually paid much attention to him. This post will change that.

Madhu ji,
Thanks for liking the post.
In Hindi Films there are hundreds of such actors who are easily missed out,but their contribution to the films and the industry in general,collectivey,is very important. When the focus is on them individually,we realise how much they contributed to the films.
The problem is to trace their links, which is extremely difficult,unless luck helps you or you are alert to try every little,obscure possibility.
-AD

Thank you, Arunji for an absorbing and moving account of a forgotten artist. A reader once referred to this blog as a treasure chest and that it most certainly is – with Greta and generous, indefatigable researchers/contributors like Arunji as its sparkling gems. Bless you all.

It’s so touchy that we just cling into pensive mood…Such an artist like parshuram is forgotten, it means
what a mean the film world is…!!! It’s a matter of great solace to every sensitve heart that a few are dedicated to highlight stark reality of Matlabi Dunia….
Gajanan Raval
Salisbury-MD,USA

Thank you, Arunji for this very interesting and informative article.
Who would have thought that the artiste behind ketaki gulab juhi. His own story is as colourful as the films he acted in. Good to know that his descendants are living happily and don’t have to share his tragic end.
Thank you, Greta for hosting this

How wonderful to read this piece! Thanks so much Arunji. And to Gaddeswarupji for giving Arunji the initial lead. And to Parshuram’s family for sharing with us.

I will always remember Parshuram for “ketaki gulab”, thanks to an incident I got involved in.

In early 2009, when I visited India, one of my friends who grew up in Bombay but now lives in Bangalore, and who’s always had a very high (and totally mistaken) opinion of my knowledge of Hindi songs and movies, told me “There was this interview by Tabassum many years ago of a famous Marathi actor who had come upon very hard times. You know who it is?”. I had NO clue.

She then said “He was also there in a very famous classical song. They showed the song on the Tabassum programme but I can’t remember which one it was”. I was still blank.

Then we went on youtube looking at lots of classical songs of yesteryear. Baiju Bawra (“aaj gaawat”) and many others. We sat through many songs just looking for that face. (My friend is one hell of a determined person. Once she sets her mind on something, it’s difficult to shake her off it :-)).

Finally, when we came to “ketaki gulab”, her eyes lit up “THAT’s the one. It was him on the show. What’s his name?” I still had NO clue, much to her surprise. She said “How can you not know? He was very famous in his time. I just HAVE to know. Now you know the song, find it out for me”.

I forgot about it. A few months later, that October, when I visited Bangalore, I met up with her. One of the first things she asked me was “So what’s his name? Did you find out?” I looked sheepish and managed to say “Not yet, but I’m working on it”. She knew me well enough to say “Of course you are. I’m not talking to you till you come back to me with a name. And not just any name. I know his name, it’s on the tip of my tongue but I’m not just able to remember it”.

That was when I came here, to Greta’s blog, hoping somebody here would be able to give an ID. This was my only hope – after all, if THIS place failed me, I didn’t know where else to look. And sure enough, Suneel Gaur helped out the very same day. The moment I told my friend “Parshuram”, her face lit up. She was thrilled!

Anyway, that is a long story (thanks for your patience for reading it). My point was – I will always remember Parshuram for “ketaki gulab”. And for this incident of course. The comments are still on this blog on https://memsaabstory.com/hindi-film-posts-miscellaneous/
(Other Filmi Posts and Trivia page) dated 15th October 2009 – I couldn’t resist a smile reading them. :-)

Anyway, back to this post.

Am very happy to know much more about Parshuram now. It is really lovely to know about a person beyond just what he or she is on screen. After all, each person has a story – and like Arunji has said, we tend to hear only about the most famous persons. Good to see pics of Parshuram’s family too.

I will watch out for him more from now on, especially as he seems to have also acted in some movies uncredited.

Thanks Raja Ji,for your interesting narration of the “Ketaki Gulab” incident.
I could not,however locate the mentioned comment .Would you please help me by giving the link of the page or exact location.
memsaab also can help.
I am curious to read what the comment was from Suneel ji Gaur.
-AD

Arunji, the link is mentioned in my above comment also but I am repeating it here.https://memsaabstory.com/hindi-film-posts-miscellaneous/
This is the “Other Fillmi Posts and Trivia page”. It has comments also – my comment is the 17th one on it, followed soon by Suneel Gaur’s post. Immediately preceding my comment is that of a Mr. M.A. Khan.
Hope you are able to locate it now. :-)

Hi Memsaab
You mentioned you wanted to write a book. I think from the article above you just found what we, your fans and i’m sure many others out there all want to know and hear about. Those who in some way for form made the industry what it is today. The forgotten ones, By doing this you not only give us fans the knowledge of those who have passed but allow there families to know that someone does care.

I would love to do a book just about character actors/actresses…there are so many whom you see in every film for decades across but know nothing about. It’s just too difficult to track information/families down, unless they come to you. If I ever don’t need a day job, I know how I will fill my time though!

I had seen “Duniya Na Mane” ( I have seen the other films mentioned also) in Doordarshan Channel more than two decades ago and specially remembered this song sung by a little child. He was advising the primary character, who indulged in child marriage (It is the main theme of the film), to act rightly. It is one of my favorite songs and I used to wonder who that little boy is. Now I know, who he is.Thanks Arun Ji and Memsaab! In fact V. Shantaram’s film’s were socially relevant films apart form being complete entertainers, with good songs and dances

Yes, I saw Kunku (the Marathi version) and was impressed by the same thing. Love that film. Early Shantaram movies were very well-made with meaningful content…later I think he indulged himself with lovely aesthetics, but the message went to pieces at least for me :)

@Memsaab: Yeah, in the film ‘Duniya Na Mane”, the primary character (the old man) presumably commits suicide, as the last scene shows his hat floating on the water. One of Shantaram’s films. “Do Aankhen Baraah Haath” is a very well made film where Shantaram, himself playing the lead as a Jailor, tries to reform a bunch of hardened criminals and succeeds in doing so. It won many international awards then, including the best film at Carlo Vi Vary. It had some very memorable songs, like “Ae Maalik Tere Bande Hum” and “Saaiyan Jhooton Ka Bada Sartaj Nikla” acted by Sandhya, Shantaram’s wife.

This is possibly not the best post for my comment, however, I couldn’t find the one where you mentioned that you were not aware that Chandramohan faced financial difficulties towards his end. An anecdote floating around the hindi newspapers ions ago (if I am not mistaken, Mr. Jai prakash Chouksey wrote it) talks of how Chandramohan and Motilal were very good friends and frequent drinking buddies. One day, Motilal arrived at Chandramohan’s place. Chandramohan kept drinking from his bottle of alcohol but didn’t offer any to Motilal, who felt slighted/sad that his friend was being unhospitable and didn’t want him in the the house. It was after his death, Motilal found out that Chadramohan was drinking “desi daru” in the expensive bottle and didn’t want to offend his friend/make him sick by offering it.

His last film was Shaeed. After this film,he became a total drunkard. Motilal was treated by him as his
son(not friend).Both of them used to recommend each others to the producers. In his last days Chandramohan was not well.When once Motilal went to see him,he was drinking from a Scotch bottle.

He drank alone,without offering it to Motilal. Motilal felt very offended,However,when he was leaving,Chandramohan wryly smiled and said,” I have lost money but not yet lost senses.You must be wondering why I did not offer you this drink. Son,the bottle is Scotch,but inside there is ‘Bewda’ (country liquor).You are like my son.I cant imagine my son drinking anything so third rate as this !”

This incident is written in details in the book ” Yaadon ki Baaraat” by Shirish Kanekar.
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Great article! I really like reading about these actors/actresses. I think their will be a database related to film industry in which all the information will be provide about the actor/actress who left the Industry……….

it is disheartening to know the status of so many celeberaties going down the drain. Lack of financial planning is one major cause. It makes them to go to booze or gambling. Society instead of helping them , spoils them. It is pity to see Meena Kumari , Pradeep , Vimi, Cuckoo etc. to name a few dying in penury. Why dont the crores are given by current superstars to Cine Artists Association , so that none of the artists have to beg on streets.
I thank you to give respect to artists who have fallen in bad times . Please find out and display if any artist which is in grave financial difficulties. Please send the details to all rich directors/ stars.

indeed very good work. i was looking for information about veteran actor parshuram since a long time. may please contact details/address of his daughter be made available. i am from gwalior m p and this city has given many famous stars to film industry like chandramohan,vanmala,h.prakash,mahendra kumar (ghar ghar ki baat 1959) lyricist jan nisar akhtar, udhav kumar,nida fajli and musician usha khanna & many others. let this mission going on. with regards

I just put Shri.Parshuram’s name in google and tried to find more information about this versatile actor and i came accross a detailed information about Master Parshuram, an actor of yesteryears through above blog.

I went through the details along with images hungrily and was very happy and pleased that some very detailed information along with movie captions of a forgotten artist’s life has come forward.

I would also like to thank Shri.Barde of New Zealand who reading the blog of Shri Arunji, promptly responded him offering additional information about Shri. Parshuram.

My sincere tributes to a departed soul.

Shri.Arunji,I would like to know about such forgotten actors of Marathi cinema in the mid 50’s to mid 80s namely Shri Dada Salvi, Barchi Bahadar, Gauri (from Sant Tukaram of Prabhat), Mai Bhide, B.Majnalkar and some others whom were in lead roles,side roles,and otherwise.

Great write up by Arunji. There is no word to describe your selfless service as well as the support that you are getting from Memsab. Great, saw your pic with Aamir Khan, did you at any point of time speak to him about the cause of old artistes of Hindi cinema.
Bhimsen Joshi – what a magical voice.
That Tabassum saw the actor in a traffic signal (Lucky Hotel, Bandra) was moving and brought tears to my eyes. The film world can be very fickle. When your time is bad, there is no one to support you. The problem is that once you get into the drinking habit, even your hard core followers will find it so difficult to accommodate you. May be this is the reason why Shantaram, Raj Kapoor never hired him afterwards.

May be if his family had not deserted him, he would have lived for some more time. But how do we know what the family suffered ?

Very very tragic. Shocking to read about Meena Shorey too.

Arunji, do me a favour, if you do know any information about actress Alka, please share the same with all of us. Alka was second lead in many films but also played the heroine in ” Asoon Ban Gaye Phool” with Deb Mukherjee which was based on a marathi novel. Years later, Yash Chopra remade it as “Mashal” with Dilip Kumar, Rati Agnihotri, Waheeda Rehman and Anil Kapoor.

Stumbled upon this post and vividly remembered the very episode of Phool Khile Hain… of Master Parshuram. (…though I was just 9-10 then.) In the early days of Mumbai (then Bombay) Doordarshan that kind of LIVE episode was etched in the mind of many many avid viewers of TV.